Ice crusher

ABSTRACT

A chopper, or crusher ( 1 ) for breaking up ice, comprising a housing ( 2, 3 ) able to be pushed over the goods to be broken up and with a knife ( 5 ) with a blade having a toothed cutter ( 52 ) is provided. An upper housing part ( 2 ) is detachably connectable to a beaker-like housing lower part ( 3 ) closed at the bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the height H K  of the blade ( 51 ), the height of the beaker H B  and the maximum vertical path of the knife ( 5 ) limited by an actuation mechanism ( 4 ) are selected and matched to one another such that the cutter ( 52 ) in its lowermost position does not come into contact with the beaker base ( 31 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ice crusher for chopping, crushingor breaking up ice and other frozen liquid foodstuffs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Onion and vegetable choppers are known from EP-B-0'345'223 andWO01/58652 of the applicant. They comprise a housing able to be pushedover the product to be broken up and a knife which is guided in thehousing and which may be displaced against the force of a spring bymeans of an actuating mechanism comprising a push button and a plunger.The knife comprises a cylindrical axle or rod on whose lower end aplate-like knife holder is seated. On the lower side of the knife holderthere are fastened one or more downwardly projecting blades which in aplan view are mostly wave-shaped or star-shaped. The knife may bedisplaced downwards against the force of the spring until the blade hascompletely penetrated the material to be chopped and abuts the baseplate of the chopper. For the perfect functioning of all known choppersit is important that the lower cutters or cutting edges of the bladeslie exactly in a horizontal plane.

Although such choppers are not designed for this, ice cubes are oftencut up with known choppers in order to obtain finer pieces of ice forcocktails, drinks or for preparing foodstuffs. The chopping of ice mayvery easily blunt or bend the known blades. Bent blades jam very quicklywith the scrapers, thereby significantly compromising the functioningability of the chopper.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an apparatuswhich alleviates these disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An ice crusher according to the present invention comprises a housingable to be pushed over the goods to be cut up and with an axle, or rod,which is guided in a housing upper part and which may be displaceddownwards against the force of a spring by way of an actuating mechanismwith a push button, wherein the axle at is lower end carries a knifeprovided with a toothed cutter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described by way of theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal section through an ice crusheraccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 a is a longitudinal section through a beaker according to apreferred embodiment form of the invention;

FIG. 2 b is a view from above into a beaker according to FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 a is a longitudinal section through a shaker attachment with alid;

FIG. 3 b is a view of the opened shaker attachment (without lid)according to FIG. 3 a, from above;

FIG. 4 a is a partial view of a knife according to a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 b is a partial view of a blade according to a further preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 c is a longitudinal section through a cutter of a knife accordingto FIG. 4 a; and

FIG. 4 d is a longitudinal section through the cutter according to FIG.4 b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The ice chopper, or crusher, shown in FIG. 1 comprises a housing 1 whichconsists of a multi-part upper part 2 and a preferably single-part lowerpart or beaker 3. The beaker 3 is connected to the upper part 2 by wayof a bayonet closure 33 or similar device. Similar to the known onionand vegetable choppers, an actuation mechanism 4 is concentricallymounted and guided in the housing upper part 2. This mechanism comprisesa push button 17 with a cap 18. In the housing upper part there isattached a knife 5 which may be displaced against the force of a springby way of the actuation mechanism 4. The actuation mechanism 4 comprisesa positive displacement mechanism which is known in the art and thus isnot shown in detail in FIG. 1. The positive displacement mechanismensures that with each to and fro movement the knife 5 rotates about itslongitudinal axis by a certain angle. This rotation movement ensuresthat the knife does not chop on the same spot. In contrast to knownvegetable choppers, the present ice chopper does not require a scraperwhich may be pushed over the knife.

The knife 5 comprises a cylindrical vertical axle or rod 11 on whoselower end there is seated a horizontally arranged carrier plate 6. Onthe lower side of the carrier plate 6 there are fastened one or moredownwardly projecting blades 51 which in a plan view are mostlywave-shaped or star-shaped. The present invention may employ anypreviously known blade shapes. For reasons of cost, the vertical rod 11and the carrier plate 6 are preferably manufactured as one piece by wayof injection moulding, wherein one injects around the blade 51 in anupper region, whereby the blade 51 becomes nondetachably fastened to thecarrier plate. In order to withstand the loading during chopping, theknife 5 is preferably manufactured of sturdy blade sheet metal of 0.3 to0.5, more preferably 0.4 mm thickness D.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, theheight H_(K) of the blade 51, the height of the beaker H_(B) and themaximal vertical path of the knife 5 limited by the actuation mechanismare selected and matched to one another such that the cutter 52 in itslowermost position does not come into contact with a beaker base 31.Thus in the lowermost knife position (in FIG. 1 shown dashed) thereremains an air gap H_(S) between the downwardly directed tips of teeth53 of the cutter 52 and the base of the beaker 31.

As described below, the beaker fulfils a double function and is alsoused as a shaker lower part. In a preferred embodiment, it is thereforemanufactured of stainless steel. The air gap H_(S) prevents a directabutment of the cutter 52 with the stainless steel base and thusprevents undesired blunting of the cutter and damage and scratching ofthe base 31. The height of the air gap H_(S) is preferably between 1 and7 mm, more preferably between 3 and 5 mm.

In a further embodiment which is not shown, the above-described beakermay be replaced by a cylindrical housing part open to the bottom. Theheight of the housing is again selected so that sensitive workingsurfaces are not contacted by the blades and will not be damaged onchopping.

With known choppers such an air gap is not desirable since it would leadto an unacceptable compromising of its functioning, however with thepresent ice chopper a complete penetration of the ice cubes to bechopped is not necessary. The ice cubes are broken apart by the sturdyblade 51, and do not need to be completely severed.

The breaking-apart effect of the blade is further encouraged bypreferred designs of the blade. With the blade shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4c the teeth are ground on both sides, wherein the cutting angle γ ispreferably between 30 and 100°. With the blade shown in FIGS. 4 b and 4d the teeth are ground on only one side and the cutting angle γ′ isabout 45°.

The toothing of the blade may be selected according to the bladematerial and the manufacturing costs. Two possible tooth shapes areshown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b. On chopping the hard and brittle ice cubes,the significant advantage of the toothed blades is that the teeth or thetips of the teeth simplify the penetration into the ice to be chopped.

In a further embodiment which is not shown, the teeth are bentalternately laterally out of the vertical plane of the blade and therebyreinforce the breaking-up effect of the ice chopper blade. The teeth mayalso be bent out of the vertical plane of the blade sheet metal twistedabout their vertical axis so that the tips of the teeth stillessentially lie in one plane and may penetrate the ice with relativelylittle resistance, and the breaking-up effect is enormously increased onfurther penetration due to the torsion of the teeth.

FIG. 2 b shows an underlay 7 adapted to the beaker, preferably of a softelastomer such as silicone. The underlay 7 may be permanently ordetachably connected to the beaker base 31 and/or to a circumferentialperipheral stand ring 32. On chopping, the underlay 7 prevents theworking surface from being scratched, damps the knocks and prevents thechopper 1 from slipping on a working surface. When the ice has beenreduced to the desired size, the beaker 3 may be removed from the upperpart 2 by means of the bayonet closure 33 and may be removed from theunderlay by lifting, and the upper part 2 with the blade may be placedon the free underlay 7. The depositing of the knife 5 on the underlay 7simultaneously protects both the cutter 52 and the working surface fromdamage. The underlay 7 preferably has a peripherally thickenedcircumferential edge bead 71 which prevents melted water which runs downor drips from the knife or other parts of the upper part 2, from runningonto a working surface lying below this.

The sidewall 30 of the beaker 30 widens to the top at an angle a so thatwith the upper part 2 removed one may fasten a fitting shakerattachment, or top, 8 in a clamped manner. The attachment, or top, 8, asshown in FIG. 3 has a sidewall 81 which tapers downwards at an angle βand which towards the top merges into the neck 83 via a cone 82. A sieveplate 84 with pour-out openings 85 is attached in the neck 83, and a lid9 may be placed on for closure. The angles α and β are between 1 and15°, preferably 4°. Angles α and β and the diameters of the upper beakerregion and the lower attachment wall are matched to one another suchthat the attachment may be placed into the beaker approximately up tothe transition of the wall 81 to the cone 82, thereby achieving anadequate sealing of the beaker to fluids.

The inner wall of the beaker is preferably provided with a grading in 10decilitres and the shaker attachment lid 9 preferably has a volumecapacity of 40 millilitres which is an important measure to barkeepers.

In order to meet the standards of hygiene required for use in thekitchen and bar region, the chopper upper part, beaker, shakerattachment and lid are manufactured of stainless steel, plastic suitablefor foodstuffs, or a combination thereof depending on design and theprice class.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 ice chopper-   2 housing upper part-   3 beaker-   4 actuating mechanism-   5 knife-   6 carrier plate-   7 underlay-   8 attachment-   9 lid-   11 axle-   12 carrier plate-   17 push button-   18 cap-   20 housing outer wall-   30 beaker wall-   31 beaker base-   32 stand surface-   33 bayonet closure-   51 blade-   52 cutter, 52′ cutter-   53 teeth, 53′ teeth-   71 edge bead-   81 attachment wall-   82 cone-   83 neck-   84 sieve plate-   85 pour-out openings

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A hand-operated crusher for cutting up ice,comprising: (a) a housing able to be placed over the ice to be cut upand comprising an upper part and a lower part; (b) a vertical rod guidedin the housing upper part, the rod being downwardly displaceable againstthe force of a spring by means of an actuating mechanism having a pushbutton; and (c) a knife attached to the lower end of the vertical rod,the knife being provided with a toothed cutter at a lower edge.
 12. Thecrusher of claim 11, wherein the housing lower part is a beaker-likehousing having a closed lower, base, end and is detachably connected tothe housing upper part at an upper end.
 13. The crusher of claim 11,wherein the knife has a maximal vertical path that is limited by theactuating device and wherein the height of the knife, the height of thehousing lower part and the maximal vertical path of the knife areselected such that the cutter, at is lowermost position, does notcontact the base of housing upper part, whereby an air gap existsbetween a lower edge of the cutter and the base of housing upper part.14. The crusher of claim 11, wherein the toothed cutter comprises teethhaving a cutting angle of between 30 and 100°.
 15. The crusher of claim14, wherein the teeth are ground on one side and have a cutting angle of45°.
 16. The crusher of claim 14, wherein the teeth are ground on bothsides and have a cutting angle of 90°.
 17. The crusher of claim 11,wherein the toothed cutter comprises teeth that are alternately bentlaterally out of a vertical plane of the knife.
 18. The crusher of claim11, wherein the toothed cutter comprises teeth that are bent out of thevertical plane of the knife twisted about their vertical axis, wherebytips of the teeth essentially still lie in the vertical plane, therebyincreasing a breaking-apart effect on chopping.
 19. The crusher of claim11, wherein the housing upper part may be removed and replaced by ashaker attachment detachably connected to the housing lower part in anessentially fluid-tight manner.
 20. The crusher of claim 19, wherein thehousing lower part widens towards an upper region at an angle α and theshaker attachment comprises a sidewall which tapers towards a lowerregion at an angle β and merges into a cone at a top region, and whereinthe diameter of the upper region of the housing lower part and thediameter of the lower region of the sidewall are matched to one anothersuch that the shaker attachment may be inserted into the housing lowerpart approximately up to the transition of the sidewall into the conethereby sealing the crusher to fluids.
 21. The crusher of claim 20,wherein the angles α and β are between 1° and 15°.
 22. The crusher ofclaim 21, wherein the angles α and β are 4°.
 23. The crusher of claim11, further comprising an underlay adapted to the housing lower part.24. The crusher of claim 23, wherein the underlay is manufactured of asoft, anti-slip elastomer.
 25. The crusher of claim 24, wherein theunderlay is manufactured of silicone.
 26. The crusher of claim 23,wherein the underlay comprises a peripherally thickened circumferentialedge bead.